High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

Test Code

HDL

Alias/See Also

Epic: LAB101

HDL Cholesterol

Preferred Specimen

Specimen Type: Serum
Collection Container: Serum gel
Specimen Volume: 3 mL

Minimum Volume

0.25 mL

Other Acceptable Specimens

Collection Container: Red top

Instructions

Centrifuge and separate cells after clot formation and within 4 hours of collection.

Transport Container

Plastic vial

Specimen Stability

Room temperature: 2 days
Refrigerated: 7 days
Frozen: 3 months

Reject Criteria (Eg, hemolysis? Lipemia? Thaw/Other?)

Unlabeled, mislabeled, wrong tube type, hemolyzed, visually lipemic, QNS, exceeds specimen stability requirements.

Methodology

Accelerator Selective Detergent

Setup Schedule

Daily

Report Available

Same day

Limitations

Artificially low HDL has been reported in patients with liver cirrhosis. Artificially decreased or increased HDL values in the presence of dyslipidemias have been reported.
Interferences from medications or endogenous substances may affect results.

Reference Range

< 40 mg/dL is low and constitutes a coronary heart disease risk factor.
>59 mg/dL is a negative risk factor for CHD.

Clinical Significance

The principle role of HDL cholesterol in lipid metabolism in the uptake and transport of cholesterol from peripheral tissues to the liver through a process known as reverse cholesterol transport. Low HDL levels are strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

Performing Laboratory

Inova Laboratories

2832 Juniper Street

Fairfax, VA 22031

Last Updated: April 10, 2023
Last Review: N. Wolford, April 10, 2023

The CPT Codes provided in this document are based on AMA guidelines and are for informational purposes only. CPT coding is the sole responsibility of the billing party. Please direct any questions regarding coding to the payor being billed. Any Profile/panel component may be ordered separately. Reflex tests are performed at an additional charge.